I'm Training a New Hire at $1 less an hour!

[eldragon]

Ouch.

I've been working full-time at a long-term-care facility since March 1st. It was trial-by-fire to say the least and I have paid my dues. I was on a skilled nursing unit until this week, when they moved me to a long-term hall.

They hired me at an humiliatingly low wage I should have refused,

but I didn't know how impossibly strenuous the job would be. I have made other posts,

but to put it short - I lost 15 lbs the first month because I couldn't even sit down, nevermind take a break.

So I worked my tail off for over 3 months, and they gave me another dollar an hour. I thought that was ok, but I still knew I was making less than others, but figured it was fair because they had more experience.

(I am a new grad, this is my first job.)

So two weeks ago they hire a woman who graduated with me. This is her third job because she has walked out of 2 others without notice. She is mean to the patients, and constantly slams things around, and runs to the nurse manager at the drop of a hat. I could go on and on about her mood, but I won't.

She was hired at $2 more an hour than I was hired at, and is still making a dollar more an hour then me, and I have been working there over 4 months.

Worse, she is telling everyone and creating alot of tension between the nurses, because she is making more than some nurses who have been working at the facility for more than a year, and some with several years of expereince.

How is this fair? How am I supposed to go to work everyday and put forth my best effort, knowing that she is making more money than me to train?

This is exactly the reason why you aren't supposed to discuss your wage with other nurses, but she not only brags about it, but even asks to see other nurses paychecks.

Is this common?

[mississippi_lpn]

Ouch.

I've been working full-time at a long-term-care facility since March 1st. It was trial-by-fire to say the least and I have paid my dues. I was on a skilled nursing unit until this week, when they moved me to a long-term hall.

They hired me at an humiliatingly low wage I should have refused,

but I didn't know how impossibly strenuous the job would be. I have made other posts,

but to put it short - I lost 15 lbs the first month because I couldn't even sit down, nevermind take a break.

So I worked my tail off for over 3 months, and they gave me another dollar an hour. I thought that was ok, but I still knew I was making less than others, but figured it was fair because they had more experience.

(I am a new grad, this is my first job.)

So two weeks ago they hire a woman who graduated with me. This is her third job because she has walked out of 2 others without notice. She is mean to the patients, and constantly slams things around, and runs to the nurse manager at the drop of a hat. I could go on and on about her mood, but I won't.

She was hired at $2 more an hour than I was hired at, and is still making a dollar more an hour then me, and I have been working there over 4 months.

Worse, she is telling everyone and creating alot of tension between the nurses, because she is making more than some nurses who have been working at the facility for more than a year, and some with several years of expereince.

How is this fair? How am I supposed to go to work everyday and put forth my best effort, knowing that she is making more money than me to train?

This is exactly the reason why you aren't supposed to discuss your wage with other nurses, but she not only brags about it, but even asks to see other nurses paychecks.

Is this common?

Nope you are not suppose to tell your salary where i work at and if you do its grounds for dismissal, and to ask to see someone's paycheck is just not good either. Telling salarys causes tension between nurses also.:argue: HTH

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

Also I don't believe what some one says they are making unless you see their paycheck, some people talk big, Alex

[eldragon]

It might not be true that she was hired at a larger wage, but she told me the first day I started training her that a friend was offered what I started at (she didn't know it was what I started at) and the friend turned down the job offer.

The thing is; perhaps the facility is forced to hire new nurses at a more competitive rate, but wouldn't it be proper to at least advance the current employees to the start rate of the new nurses?

I mean, what do you get for continued diligence and servitude? I've been at the place just over 4 months and it's been horrible. Horrible. I was told at the interview that the facility had low-turnover rates and since I've been there, we have had a nurse manager fired, then re-hired then fired again, then finally replaced all together. Other supervisors have been escorted out this past week. Long-time employees have quit over the dismal pay scales, too, and nobody seemed to care. The place is a wreck, but I need the paycheck.

And while job-hopping does not appear to have hurt this new, better-paid nurse, I really wanted to stay at my first job for at least a year.

But I am beginning to NOT TRUST upper management. And that's not good.

[kstec, LPN]

First of all never talk about your hourly wage. At most facilities, it could be grounds for dismissal. Also, like someone else said she could be blowing smoke. And by the way you describe her, she probably won't be there long considering her attitude. I'd like to believe that most reputable facilities get rid of the trouble makers. Just let this blow over, because if you initiate something with the hire up and this nurse is canned, you opened up a can of worms that may get you terminated. The only way that you can bring the wage up is if it is posted publically in a newspaper ad or in your facility for the same exact job and description. Then by all means question why. Good luck, but I don't think reaking havoc over this nurse is worth it. Good luck!!!!

[Freedom42]

First of all never talk about your hourly wage. At most facilities, it could be grounds for dismissal.

.

Come on. Have you ever heard of anyone being fired for exercising their First Amendment right to talk about their pay check? I find it hard to believe that accepting a wage means you forfeit your right to free speech. I don't doubt, however, that companies use such policies as silly scare tactices to prevent employees from finding out what's really going on and -- gasp -- organizing to demand equitable treatment for all. Heaven help the company if you all work together.

Years ago I worked for an employer who had such a silly policy. No one had a problem violating it when a male co-worker accidentally dropped his pay check on the floor -- and all of the women who'd been with the company for decades longer than he had found out they'd been shafted.

[caliotter3]

Disparity in pay and in the circumstances surrounding pay, when found out, make a good reason to find employment elsewhere. When confronted with unfair treatment in the pay department, I've let management know what I thought about the situation. In my case, it was the basic dishonesty about what was said to me versus what was said to others and how the rules "changed" as time went on. When I talked to them about what I thought about how they treated me, I was already on my way to shifting my loyalty to an employer that thought better of me and proved it with their actions. Once you have been at this job for the one year, I would consider moving on. I don't think that if you discussed this with management that they would rectify their obvious error in judgment and instead, they would probably take it out on you. Just learn from this and find someplace better.

[caliotter3]

You might try this if you want to stir things up: Confront your boss and tell them, "Well, Suzie Q is proud of her salary, and since you are paying her X amount more than me, I'll be expecting Y pay raise on my next check. I'm sure this was an oversight, and you wouldn't think of paying a new hire more than me!" See what kind of reaction you get. When they try to blow you off, get serious, and tell them you don't think this is right for morale and that you do expect the pay raise. Start looking for your new job, no matter what the outcome. Employers like to pull this one. Their usual reaction when they are called on it, is to treat you like you're supposed to be grateful that they allow you to work for them at all.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

One of my coworkers is a seasoned nurse with years of experience who has been employed at our facility for 6 years. She is the lowest-paid nurse in the facility. Those of us with less experience and less seniority with the company are earning more than her.

Yes, this sometimes happens. Sometimes a new hire will be started off at more money than a nurse who has been there for a while. The focus os on recruitment (rather than retention), so you'd better bargain for the highest pay rate possible at the hiring table.

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

Some places you are better off quiting and come back for the new rate, doesn't make it right.''

Always bothered me that agency nurses get paid more money.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

Some places you are better off quiting and come back for the new rate, doesn't make it right.''

Always bothered me that agency nurses get paid more money.

whoa. whoa. whoa. if you are talking about YOUR fully benefitted position vs agency....let us think this thru.....no vaca, no personal time, no insurance, and no sick time....no paid holidays.....not sounding so "high paying" hmmmm?

[eldragon]

whoa. whoa. whoa. if you are talking about YOUR fully benefitted position vs agency....let us think this thru.....no vaca, no personal time, no insurance, and no sick time....no paid holidays.....not sounding so "high paying" hmmmm?

The ads I've seen for agencies offer all that - paid by the agency. Not personal time, but that sounds really rare any way.

I had a union job years ago, not in nursing, but we still didn't get sick days. As far as I know, only government jobs pay those.

But back to your post, doesn't the agency offer its employees benefits?